Firefighters at the foot of New Mexico’s Rocky Mountains are digging new fire strips and clearing shrubs to prevent a massive wildfire from destroying more homes and pine forests.
From CEDAR ATTANASIO and SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press
10 May 2022, 01:10
• 3 minutes of reading
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LAS VEGAS, New Mexico – Firefighters in northern New Mexico worked on Monday in rugged terrain before a massive wildfire, frantically trying to position crews to clear bushes and stop the monstrous flames from burning more homes at the foot of the Ska Mountains. .
The wildfire has charred 308 square miles (798 square kilometers) of dry ponderose forest, making it the largest fire in the United States during the early start of the fire season. Thousands of people have been evacuated.
Much of the southwestern part has been in the grip of land for decades, and higher temperatures are combined with spring winds to create dangerous fire conditions.
Crews in Arizona were battling strong winds Monday as they battled a fire near the U.S.-Mexico border that forced several dozen people to flee their homes.
Another forest fire in northern New Mexico near key federal government facilities for nuclear research has prompted the Los Alamos National Laboratory and others in the area to begin evacuation preparations, although officials said there was no immediate threat to the laboratory.
The fire burned nearly 64 square miles (165 square kilometers).
Officials said some medically fragile residents and large animals had already been relocated from the area to reduce congestion if an evacuation was ordered. They expected residents to have at least a day or two notice before they were obliged to leave.
“If the fire gets its fifth gear, it will be here sooner than we want it to be,” said incident commander Rich Harvey. “We’re doing our best to check it out.”
Strong, gusty winds continued to blow in the region after setting fires for weeks and often grounding major planes used to launch water or fire retardants in front of flames, complicating efforts to contain them. Wind will continue to be a factor this week, along with low humidity, but to varying degrees depending on the day.
Firefighters have predicted that part of the main fire in New Mexico will push north into rugged terrain that is difficult for firefighters to access.
“This is not a surprise to us. All models have shown that this is likely to happen, “said fire chief Todd Abel, adding that crews had spent days working to protect the ranch scattered around the area.
Nearly 1,700 firefighters battled the blaze, northeast of Santa Fe, which was nearly 50 percent under control. It destroyed nearly 300 structures, including homes, commercial buildings and barns.
The region’s largest population center – Las Vegas, New Mexico, home to 13,000 people – remained largely safe from the blaze after some residents were allowed to return over the weekend. Schools were expected to return to private classes on Tuesday.
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Montoya Brian reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca of Flagstaff, Arizona, contributed to the report.
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